Manifold pack holder



Feb. 1934. SHERMAN 1,947,663

MANIFOLD FACK HOLDER Filed. June 15. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l r INVENTOR.

9 1 TORNEY'S.

Feb. 20, 1934. Q HERMAN 1,947,663

MANIFOLD PACK HOLDER Filed June 15. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 to -2 LL.

: IN\VENT0R. \fi/miwbmmsys.

Patented Feb. 2 0, 1934 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 22 Claims.

This invention relates to manifolding apparatus, and more particularly to a case or receptacle for a packet of manifolding strips reversely folded into zig-zag formation, from which the strips are to be manually withdrawn.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and economically constructed container or receptacle for manifolding material which will be compact, of relatively small size and light weight, having minimum working parts,. which may be easily and quickly operated and which will be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically signaling to the operator when a predetermined length of manifolding material has been withdrawn from the receptacle.

A further. object of the invention is the utilization of the succeeding reverse folds of the strip 20 material for signaling the completion of withdrawal of a predetermined length of material.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of tension means for the manifolding strips, yieldinglyresisting their withdrawal.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved guide means for the manifolding strips and to provide a dual purpose closure for the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is the pro vision of improved means for anchoring a sta tionary sheet of transfer material between the traveling superposed strips of manifolding material.

' With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein the preferred, but obviously not the only formof embodiment of the invention is shown, Fig. l is a perspective view of the device, forming the subject matter hereof, with a length of manifolding material positioned upon the writing tablet, and illustrating the manner of lifting the free edges of the strips of manifolding material to facilitate grasping them for further pullingadjustment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device partly broken away to disclose the packet of manifolding material interiorly thereof. 'Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views illustrating the manner of at- 3 taching a transfer'sheet to an anchor bar.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

While the present manifold pack holder may be made of any suitable size and proportions, it is preferably of comparatively small size, slightly larger than the packet of manifold material to be contained therein. In the illustrated embodiment, it comprises a flat box like receptacle 1, which in this instance is open at one terminal end for insertion and withdrawal of the strip 5 material. The access opening of the receptacle is provided with a spring pressed closure door 2 hinged at its bottom and having its free edge uppermost. The closure door abuts upon a rounded guide surface 3 substantially coincident with the top of the receptacle.

The superposed strips of manifolding material with or without interleaved carbon strips, are reversely folded at spaced intervals in zig-zag formation into a packet 4, which is inserted within the receptacle through its open end, upon Withdrawal of the spring pressed closure door 2. The folded strips is manually withdrawn from the receptacle, passing between the spring pressed door 2 and the rounded guide surface 3, against 30 which the strips are yieldingly pressed by the spring actuated door 2 thereby affording a tension or yielding resistance to movement of the strips.

The top surface of the receptacle is fiat and 35 forms a writing tablet over which the superposed strips are manually drawn. Marginal guide strips 5 are provided upon the writing tablet in overhanging relation with the margins of the rec- 'ord strips. A guide bar 6 is disposed transversely of the path of travel of the strips in proximate relation with the opening through which the strips are withdrawn from the receptacle. The strips are passed under the guide bar 6 which holds the strips down upon the writing tablet and cooperates with the guide surface 3 and tension device 2. Obviously the strips may be with,- drawn through a slot in the receptacle wall additional to and apart from the access opening through which the pack is inserted. Various forms of tension means may be employed, the duo-functional door 2. however, affords a practical and economical construction.

As succeeding folds of the strips pass between the spring pressed tension device, in this instance the door 2, and the guide surface 3, they meet with slightly increased resistance, which resistance to movement of the strips is readily felt by the operator pulling upon the free ends of the strips and thus the completion of withdrawal 110 of a predetermined length of material is indicated to the operator. The tension upon the strips afforded by the spring pressed member 2, whether the door or merely a tension device, varies throughout the strip, increasing when a fold of the material is encountered, and permitting more free movement intermediate the folds. It thus requires a somewhat greater pulling effort upon the strips to draw a fold of the material past the guide surface 3 and from under the pressure or tension member 2. The operator is warned by the feel of the strip when a required length of material has been withdrawn.

In the event that carbon strips are not interleaved with the record strips, the required number of transfer sheets are anchored between the superposed strips of record material in overlapping relation with the writing tablet. For this purpose anchor strips '7 of thin fiat material are provided, there being one anchor strip for each transfer sheet. The superposed record strips are arranged over and under the anchor strips whereby the transfer sheets are disposed therebetween. To quickly and economically secure the transfer sheet to its anchor strip, each sheet is provided with two or more holes 8 disposed in alined relation adjacent to one terminal margin of the sheet. The thin flat anchor strip 7 is threaded in alternating directions through succeeding holes 8 and the portion of the sheet intermediate the anchor strip and the terminal margin is reversely folded into overlapping relation with the anchor strip as shown more particularly in Fig. 4. The anchor strips '1, of which there is one for each transfer sheet, are detachably secured to the top of the receptacle. In the present instance the strips '7 which are flexible are pivoted upon a stud 9 at one end and the opposite ends of the strips are bifurcated or notched at 10 for detachable engagement beneath the head of a second stud 11.

' cle.

at 14. The partition 13 is formed with a rear- In as much as the superposed strips are manually pulled forward to position a fresh set of forms upon the writing tablet after each writing operation and the used forms torn off, a longitudinally disposed groove depression 12 is provided in the writing tablet within which a finger, pencil or other implement may be slidingly raised to facilitate grasping them for manual pulling adjustment.

Since it may 'be desired to use -manifolding forms of different size in the holder, an adjustable partition 13 is provided within the recepta- The side walls of the receptacle are slotted wardly projecting bottom flange 15, the ends of which are bent upwardly to form ears 16 which receive clamp screws 1'7 projecting through the slots 14. By releasing the clamp screws 17 the partition 13 may be adjusted to and fro into agreement with the size of the packet 14, and again secured by the tightening of the screws- The construction affords a simple, light weight, compact pack holder which is easily portable, and is quite convenient for tallying or checking purposes, or for use in lieu of a sales book or record pad, as well as for desk use for which the larger styles of autographic register is unsuitable.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular-features of advantage before enumerated as ,desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages. I

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the inventionis 'not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A container for a manifolding packet, comprising a box like receptacle to receive a packet of manifolding material having in one of its vertical walls an access opening, a spring pressed closure for the access opening, a stop for the closure between which and the closure the supply of manifolding material passes to the exterior of the receptacle, the spring pressed closure exerting a yielding clamping pressure thereon, a flat top for the receptacle forming a writing tablet over which the manifolding material extends, guides marginally overlapping the manifolding material beneath which the material is drawn, a carbon supporting bar disposed transversely across the writing tablet, over and. under which the succeeding strips of manifolding material are drawn, the writing tablet having a depression therein to facilitate grasping the maniffolding material for forward pulling adjustment.

2. A container for a packet of strip material reversely folded into zig-zag formation and from which the strip is to be manually withdrawn, and clamping means affording increased resistance to the passage of succeeding folds of the strip whereby the increased resistance of the folds will be caused to be felt bythe operator pulling the strip to indicate measured lengths of the strip, said clamping means engaging the con-.

tainer in the absence of strip material.

3. A receptacle for a packet of strip material reversely folded into zig-zag formation and from which the folded strip is to be manually pulled, and a clamping device affording variable resistance to the movement of the strip which resistance increases upon the passage of a fold to signal the withdrawal of a measured length of the strip from the receptacle, said clamping devise engaging the receptacle in the absence of strip material.

4. A receptacle for a packet of strip material reversely folded into zig-zag formation, an opening therein through which the folded strip is withdrawn, the top of the box being flat to form a writing tablet over which the strip is manually drawn, and a groove depression extending parallel with the path of travel of the strip over the writing tablet and normally partially overlapped by the strip into which a finger or pencil may be introduced to facilitate the raising of the free end of the strip to enable it to be grasped for further pulling adjustment.

-5. A receptacle for a packet of strip material revers'ely folded into zig-zag formation, an opening therein through which the folded strip is withdrawn, the top of the box being flat to form a writing tablet over which the strip is manually drawn, and a depression in the writing tablet underlying a longitudinal margin portion of the strip within which an implement may be slid beneath the free end of the strip to raise the strip to enable it to be easily grasped.

6. In a manifolding apparatus, the combination-with a writing tablet over which superposed strips of manifolding material are passed, a carbon supporting strip disposed transversely of the bath of travel of the strips, over and under which strip extending transversely of the path of travel of the record strips, said anchor strip being threaded in alternating directions through succeeding holes in the transfer sheet, the portion of the sheet of transfer material between the anchor strip and the terminal margin of the sheet being reversely folded into overlapping relation with the anchor strip.

8. In a dispensing apparatus for strip material, a box like receptacle for a packet of strip material reversely folded into zig-zag formation, an opening in the receptacle throughwhich the strip material is to be manually drawn, the side walls of the receptacle being longitudinally slotted, a transverse partition adjustable within the receptacle to adapt the latter to packets of different size, and securing means upon the parti-' tion having sliding engagement in said longitudinal slots.

9. In a dispensing apparatus for strip material, a box like receptacle for a packet of strip material reversely folded into zig-zag formation, an opening in the receptacle through which the strip material is to be manually drawn, and an adjustable partition interiorly of the receptacle by adjustment of which the receptacle may be adapted to packets of different dimensions.

10. In a manifolding apparatus, a box like container open at its end to receive a packet of manifolding material, and from which superposed strips of manifolding material are simultaneously drawn through said open end over the top of the box which forms a writing tablet, and a spring pressed closure for said open end, said closure cooperating with the top to clamp the material thereby exerting a tension pressure upon the manifolding strips and yieldingly resisting their withdrawal from the receptacle.

11. In a manifolding apparatus, a removably mounted sheet of transfer material to be interposed between superposed traveling strips of record material, the sheet having spaced holestherein adjacent to one end and an anchor strip extending transversely of the path of travel of the record strips, said anchor strip being threaded in alternating directions through succeeding holes in the transfer sheet, the portion of the sheet of transfer material between the anchor strip and the terminal margin of the sheet being reversely folded.

12. In a manifolding apparatus, a removably mounted sheet of transfer material to be interposed between superposed strips of record material, the transfer sheet having transversely spaced holes therein adjacent a reversely folded end and an anchor strip interlocking said transfer sheet by threading the holes therein.

13. A removably mounted sheet of transfer material to beinterposed between superposed strips of record material, the sheet being reversely folded at one end, a support strip partially enclosed within the fold, and spaced holes in an overlapped portion of the folded sheet for interlaced connection with the support.

14. A removably mounted sheet of transfer material to be interposed between superposed strips of record material, the sheet being reversely folded at one end, the overlapped portion being apertured, a support strip partially cnclosed in the fold and detachably engaged with the sheet through said apertures.

15. In a manifolding apparatus, a box like housing to receive a packet of collectively folded superposed manifolding strips of record material the top of which forms a writing table and from which the record material is progressively withdrawn about an edge of the writing table into writing position thereon, such edge being disposed coincident with the folds of the record material when contiguous portions thereof are in adjusted writing position upon the table, and a spring actuated control member confining the material to a path of travel within the limits of the housing in passing from the interior thereof onto the writing table and serving to direct the material abruptly, about an edge of the table and to hold the folds in conformity therewith.

16. In a manifolding apparatus, a box like housing to receive a packet of collectively folded record material, including a writing table forming the top of the housing having an edge within the confines of the housing about which record material is drawn from the interior of the housing onto the table, such .edge being positioned in conformity with the position of the folds of the material when contiguous portions thereof are in adjusted writing position on the table, and a control member for retarding the movement of the material and confining it to a path of travel within the limits of the housing having an abrupt turn about said table edge thereby tending to hold the folds of the material in conformity therewith.

17. In a manifolding apparatus, a box like housing to receive a packet of folded record material, including a writing. table forming the top of the housing having an edge within the confines of the housing about which record material is drawn from the interior of the housing onto the table, such edge being positioned in conformity with the position of the folds of the material when contiguous portions thereof are in adjusted writing position on the table, and guide means confining the bight of the material to a constricted path about the edge of the table and within the housing by which alternate folds are broken reversely into conformity with the table edge.

18. A pack holder including a writing tablet which terminates in an edge over which the record material is drawn from a zigzag stack of record material underlying said' tablet, and yieldingly urged means cooperating with said edge to tension the record material, said means ineluding a member extending beyond the edge of said table when the record material is withdrawn.

19. A receptacle for a packet of strip material reversely folded into zigzag formation, an opening therein through which the folded strip is withdrawn, the top of the receptacle including a fiat surface forming a'writing tablet over which the strip is manually drawn, and a groove to facilitate grasping of the record material surrounded on at least three sides by continuations of the writing tablet including a bottom disposed below the plane of the writing tablet surface, said groove extending beyond that portion of the tablet normally covered by the strip and beyond the leading edge of the strip.

20. In a dispensing apparatus for strip material, a box-like receptacle for a packet of strip material reversely folded into zigzagformation, an opening in the receptacle through which the strip material is to be manually drawn, a transverse partition adjustably disposed between one end of the packet and the 'end of the receptacle, the receptacle having at least one of its walls slotted through which the partition may be manually actuated.

21. In a dispensing apparatus a box-like receptacle for a packet of strip material having a slotted wall and including a top forming a writing memes tablet having an edge about which the strip is withdrawn from the receptacle into writing position on the tablet and a transverse wall slidingly adjustable relative to the packet, said transverse wall being located intermediate the packet and one end of the receptacle and accessible for adjustment through the slotted wall.

22. In a dispensing apparatus a box-like rec"eptac1e for a packet of strip material, including a top forming a writing tablet having an edge about which the strip is withdrawn from the interior of the receptacle into writing position on the writing tablet and a movable closure for the receptacle limited in its closing movement by said edge of the writing table between which closure and the edge of the writing tablet the strip is gripped at the limit of movement of closure in closing direction.

JOHN Q. SHERMAN. 

